Youth Agency Matches Jobs With Teenagers

SOUTHINGTON — Late last month, high school sophomore Debbie King wondered how to earn spending money this summer.

Rebecca Tatro pondered how to find temporary workers to package a massive order at her Plantsville marketing firm.

The two found each other thanks to the town's Youth Employment Service program, which matches job-seeking youths ages 12 to 16 with odd jobs, chores or temporary work offered by residents and businesses.

``We've done this for years to help out the young teens under 16 who aren't old enough to find regular part-time work. It gives young teens a way to make money, keeps them busy and builds self-esteem,'' said Susan Saucier, director of Southington Youth Services, the agency which runs the program.

Many of the jobs found through the program involve household chores, such as yard work, cleaning and baby-sitting, Saucier said. Youths are matched with appropriate jobs close enough to their homes so they can walk or bicycle.

``Payment is a matter worked out between youth and employer,'' Saucier said. ``We act like a matchmaker. We tells the kids it's important to do a good job, because it may lead to other work. We've had very few complaints over the years.''

The arrangement with the marketing firm is one of this summer's success stories, said Saucier, whose agency has gotten jobs so far this month for 22 of the 90 youths on its employment list.

The last three weeks, King has worked several days at New Images In Specialty Advertising, packaging marketing items in boxes for clients. Hourly pay is above minimum wage, giving her the spending money she wanted.

Tatro and partner Walter Kopcza have the help they need to move orders out the door on time.

``We've been packaging since 9 a.m.,'' King said Thursday afternoon at the firm's office. She learned of the program when her mother spotted a short newspaper story about it.

``It's good for me. If I wasn't here, I wouldn't have been able to earn money for the summer. I'd recommend it,'' King said.

Tatro said the firm hired six teenagers this summer through the program. She said it's been great.

``The kids we've been sent are bright, agile and hard-working. It's worked out well for us. We're pleased to have them. We have three of them here today, packaging clients' items,'' Tatro said. ``There's 30 different items and they go in a certain way. But the kids have been reliable. I'd recommend it to others.''

Not everyone on the program's hiring list may get a job this summer. Saucier stopped taking youth applications on July 1, holding the list at 90. Anyone wishing to hire a teenager can contact youth services at 276-6281 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

``It does help the kids,'' Tatro said. ``I can remember being that age and having nothing except baby-sitting to do. This is a way they can learn about business and get job skills.''